Momen Kaido Koryukan (木綿街道交流館)

Flow of the course

About this spot

About a ten-minute walk from Unshu-Hirata Station (雲州平田駅), this is a white-walled merchant town that still carries the atmosphere of its heyday as a distribution hub for Unshu cotton. Along the cobblestone street lined with stately gable-entry townhouses, soy sauce breweries and sake breweries that preserve traditional methods, as well as long-established shops making handmade ginger candy, are still in business today. The charm of this street lies in the small encounters you find the more you walk, from tastings at shop fronts to items sold by weight. At Momen Kaido Koryukan (木綿街道交流館) you can learn about the town's history and the structure of its townhouses, and lunch at a cafe converted from an old townhouse is full of travel atmosphere, making it a great break partway through your stroll.

Tips

Cars also pass through the street, so hold small children's hands while walking. Getting a walking map at Momen Kaido Koryukan (木綿街道交流館) first will help you not miss any highlights. Many shops close before evening, so a morning-to-midday visit is the way to go.

Best time to visit

About 2 hours 30 minutes. In the morning, shops begin opening and the street is lively, and lunch at townhouse cafes is easy to get without waiting in line.

Access & map

〒691-0001 島根県出雲市平田町８４１